I would guess this sort of debate is proper to the Discuss list and perhaps we can continue this dialogue on that list. I am sure that Dave will give a more detailed and authoritative answer, but we do have a "Tip of the Day" on the search page which quotes as below. ************** Tip of the Day Searching for common surnames across the entire database will produce a Search too Complex error. Split your search down into smaller date ranges to get results. ************** However the usefulness of the search facility is that if you search for "Elliott" marriages all years and all Districts it produces a positive result. I have just tried this to prove the point but I wouldn't think this is recommended. In addition to any technical response from Dave, if we added something like "Searching for non-entered surnames across the entire database will produce a Search too Complex error. Enter a surname to get results." In our "Tip of the Day" would be sufficiently up front? Allan Raymond [email protected] http://www.btinternet.com/~allan_raymond/Monarchies_of_Europe.htm FreeBMD - putting birth marriages and deaths on the Internet http://FreeBMD.rootsweb.com/ ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: 17 July 2001 16:08 Subject: Search Too Comples-- An Example Hello, Here's a more concrete example of a search which is deemed "too complex" 1) I'm looking for all marriages recorded so far for Dec 1899 in Nottingham (no specific surnames) 2) First I request a 'count' to see how many there are 5 records match your query press "Find" to display them 3) So I press "Find" The maximum limit for search complexity is 2500000 your search has a complexity of 20228130 This is not an error. Please do not report it. I gather the initial search would try to build a table of 20,228,130 entries. 20+ million entries of what? Everyone in the master db with no surname? 4) Okay, this is not an error and I'm not officially reporting it. But it sure is a "puzzlement," and, if such searches are not allowed, don't you think this would tend to limit the usefulness of the database as a research tool? Must all searches have a surname entered? If so, why not tell folks that up front. Thanks for any insight you can provide. Rick Elliott ==== FreeBMD-Admins Mailing List ==== Need to get a fast answer to your transcribing problems? Go to the Transcribers Knowledge Base at http://FreeBMD.RootsWeb.com/vol_faq.html ============================== Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 Source for Family History Online. Go to: http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB